In 1999 I traveled to Japan to participate in several exhibitions hosted by my dear friend Mr. Shiho Kanzaki. I arrived with gifts for all the many people that were required to make this amazing opportunity a reality for me.

After I arrived and was unpacking, I discovered that 4 of the side-fired cups that I’d brought as gifts had been broken by the baggage-handling process. Without a thought I dumped them into the waste basket in my room. Sometime later that week, someone came to my room and took out the trash.

After a remarkable 6 weeks in Shigaraki, two exhibitions, travel, fine food, new friends…my visit came to an end.

As often happens there were some “parting gifts” given by me to my hosts; and some gifts were given to me by my hosts. Among the parting gifts I received, I discovered…

This is a live performance of Hitoto Yo singing the most beautiful song ever. It is all in Japanese. And although I do know a little Japanese, I don’t know enough to be able to tell what the song is about. All I know is that I love it. I don’t think it is really necessary to understand the words of a song to be able to appreciate its beauty. I hope you will enjoy it too.